Departmental Travel

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what travel  (a) he and  (b) the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland undertook in respect of attendance at the Scottish Labour Party conference on 7 and 8 April 2009.

Ann McKechin: The Scotland Office did not make any travel arrangements for either the Secretary of State or the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State regarding their attendance at the Scottish Labour Party Conference.

Aviation: Safety

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Air Accident Investigation Branch's interim report of 13 March 2009 on the incident at Heathrow Airport on 17 January 2008, when he expects the modifications to the Rolls Royce Trent 800 engine to prevent critical power loss due to ice crystals to be made to all aircraft with that engine operating from the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Boeing and Rolls Royce are already working to develop appropriate modifications to the B777 aircraft and the Fuel Oil Heat Exchanger on the Rolls Royce Trent 800 engine. Once the modifications have been developed they will need to be approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The Civil Aviation Authority will then ensure that UK airlines make the modifications within the timescale set by EASA.
	Since the accident at Heathrow in January 2008 Boeing has developed a range of changes to the aircrafts operating procedures to ensure that aircraft crews can minimise and manage any risk associated with potential ice accumulation in the fuel system. These procedures have been approved by EASA and the US Federal Aviation Administration (US FAA) and have been made mandatory for all US and European airlines. Both EASA and the US FAA are content that, subject to the application of these procedures, B777 aircraft with Rolls Royce Trent engines are safe to remain in service. When a Delta Airlines Boeing 777 experienced an uncommanded power reduction in a single engine on 26 November 2008 the procedures were shown to be effective and thrust control of the engine was recovered.

Motor Vehicles

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 12W, on motor vehicles, if he will publish the results of the research from the recent comparison of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency vehicle register and motor insurance database when it is available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Yes. The information will be placed in the Libraries of the House when available.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 44-46W, on bovine tuberculosis, for how many head of cattle he has budgeted for compensation payments for reactors and contact animals in 2009-10.

Jane Kennedy: We do not estimate compensation spend solely on the basis of head of cattle since spend is demand led and much will depend on the disease situation and prevailing cattle prices (since compensation payments are linked to market prices). The estimate of £23 million provided in the answer of 23 March 2009,  Official  Report, columns 44-46W, is based on what was spent in previous years and the spending pattern in the current year (forecast spend for 2008-09, net of receipts, is £25.7 million). The estimate includes payments to cattle-owners and haulage costs, and was offset by salvage receipts.

Departmental ICT

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2008,  Official Report, column 773W, on departmental ICT, which ICT projects are over budget and by how much in each case.

Paul Goggins: There is one ICT project which is over budget.
	The Causeway Programme's original estimated cost was £42.7 million but it is estimated to be £58 million by 2013 when the contract is closed.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1793W, on training, what the cost was of his training in  (a) the presentation of foreign policy and  (b) his Department's IT systems.

Gillian Merron: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 2 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1240-44W.

Iran: Diplomatic Service

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 March 2009,  Official Report, column 29W, on Iran, in what ways the Iranian authorities have obstructed the activities of staff at the British Embassy in Tehran; what activities have been obstructed; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The Iranian authorities have obstructed the activities of our embassy in Tehran in numerous ways, including: by placing restrictions on vehicle access to the embassy compounds for embassy staff and visitors, harassing embassy staff, guests, and contractors carrying out work on our compounds (including security work recommended by the Iranian authorities), and failing to provide airside access for the collection of diplomatic bags.
	Additionally the British Council was forced to suspend its operation in Iran earlier this year, because of unacceptable pressure put on its staff by the Iranian Government.
	We have raised these issues with the Iranian authorities on numerous occasions and reminded them of their obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Northavon of 15 December 2008 sent on behalf of Mr. R Jenkins of Tytherington, South Gloucestershire.

Gillian Merron: The hon. Member for Northavon's letter was replied to on 20 March 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Northavon of 19 December 2008 sent on behalf of M Taylor of Chipping Sodbury.

Gillian Merron: The hon. Member for Northavon's letter was replied to on 20 March 2009.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take steps at the United Nations with regard to the ambush and murder of two police officers in Israel on 15 March; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The UK condemns the murder of the two police officers. This incident has reinforced the urgent need for lasting peace in the Middle East. We remain committed to a two-state solution and to achieving a comprehensive peace and shall continue to work closely with the parties, with the Quartet of the UN, EU, US, and Russia, and with regional partners to make progress in 2009.

Regional Ministers: Travel

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Permanent Secretary of his Department has authorised expenditure on travel costs for the Parliamentary assistants to  (a) the Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber and  (b) the Minister for the East Midlands in accordance with the circumstances envisaged in the Cabinet Secretary's letter to Permanent Secretaries of 2 December 2008.

Gillian Merron: No.

Departmental Manpower

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 17W, on departmental personnel, if he will place in the Library a copy of  (a) the terms of reference for his Department's recruitment of an interim human resources manager via Penna Interim,  (b) the contract between his Department and Penna Interim,  (c) the contract of employment between the appointee and Penna Interim and  (d) the list of the appointee's primary responsibilities and the duties for the human resources manager; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: (a) A copy of the terms of reference for the recruitment of the Interim HR Director, will be placed in the Library.
	 (b) The contract between DFID and Penna Interim is regarded as commercial in confidence. As such it is not appropriate to place a copy in the Library.
	 (c) The contract that existed between the appointee and Penna Interim is a matter for the two parties involved.
	 (d) The duties of the DFID HR Director will also be placed in the Library.

Departmental Official Engagements

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his official engagements on 23 February 2009 were; and by what  (a) route and  (b) method he travelled between each engagement.

Michael Foster: On 23 February 2009 the Secretary of State for International Development attended the Cabinet Away-Day in Southampton in the morning and did a regional visit on behalf of the Department for International Development (DFID) in the afternoon. He took the train from London to Southampton and returned to London by train from Reading. He travelled between engagements by Government car.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2009,  Official Report, column 861W, on departmental training, which Ministers attended the public communications course; and how much the course cost to provide.

Michael Foster: Identifying Ministers who undertake training may discourage participation in future training sessions, acting as a disincentive for Ministers to undertake formal professional development. The total cost of the public communications course was £4,050.

Overseas Aid: Malaria

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development from which budget the allocation of £2 million for the prevention of the spread of malaria announced on 12 March 2009 will be drawn; whether the funding is additional to that allocated for the provision of 20 million bed nets; to which programmes that funding will be allocated; and how that funding will be distributed.

Ivan Lewis: The funding to meet this commitment will come from the budget available for development programmes in Africa at the Department for International Development (DFID). The funding is additional to that allocated for the additional 20 million bed nets.
	This additional funding will be spent in Kenya and Tanzania and be used to support malaria prevention activities in those two countries. Officials are currently working on the detail of what the resources will support and how the funding will be distributed.

AWE Aldermaston

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth South of 18 December 2008,  Official Report, column 964W, on AWE Aldermaston, if he will place in the Library a copy of any Preliminary Safety Report prepared by the Directorate of Major Projects when it has been completed at AWE Aldermaston for the proposed Enriched Uranium Facility and Hydrodynamics Facility at AWE Aldermaston which has been provided to the Health and Safety Executive.

Quentin Davies: Neither of these documents currently exist. They will be assessed for placement in the Library of the House if and when they are produced.

Defence: Equipment

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 831W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, what mechanism is used to assess a proposal to gift equipment.

John Hutton: Surplus assets are considered for sale before being considered for gifting. Any proposals for the gifting of equipment in Iraq are scrutinized by the Ministry of Defence's Operational Planning Group (Redistribution). This group was established in October 2008 to address the drawdown of UK forces in Iraq. Gifting of items with a value of less that £250k can be authorised by the Ministry of Defence; any items with a value greater than £250,000 can only be authorised by HM Treasury and Parliament.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 176W, on Iraq: peacekeeping operations, for what reasons he does not publish information on individuals captured outside multi-national Division South-East.

John Hutton: Given the sensitive nature of these operations it is not the practice of the Department to comment upon them.

Regional Ministers: Travel

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the permanent secretary of his Department has authorised expenditure on travel costs for the parliamentary assistant to the Minister for the South West in accordance with the circumstances envisaged in the Cabinet Secretary's letter to Permanent Secretaries of 2 December 2008.

Ben Bradshaw: The permanent secretary has on one occasion (for travel on 26 January 2009) authorised expenditure on travel costs for the parliamentary assistant to the Minister for the South West in accordance with the circumstances envisaged in the Cabinet Secretary's letter to permanent secretaries of 2 December 2008. However, the journey did not take place and no cost was therefore incurred.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what level of assistance his Department provided for vulnerable households under the support for mortgage interest scheme in the period immediately prior to 5 January 2009; and what level has been provided under the scheme since that date;
	(2)  what definition of vulnerable his Department uses in respect of its support for mortgage interest scheme.

Kitty Ussher: Help is provided towards the interest on mortgages (known as support for mortgage interest (SMI)) as part of income support (IS), income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA(IB)), income-related employment and support allowance (ESA(IR)) and state pension credit (SPC).
	Prior to 5 January, home owners claiming IS, JSA(IB), ESA(IR) generally had to serve a waiting period of 39 weeks before assistance was provided towards their eligible housing costs. Customers in receipt of state pension credit (SPC) receive help immediately with their housing costs as they do not serve a waiting period.
	Some home owners, who were considered to be vulnerable, received help towards their housing costs earlier than 39 weeks. Help for these groups was provided at 50 per cent. of eligible mortgage interest after eight weeks then full eligible assistance after 26 weeks. The groups were: carers; widow(er)s or people who have been abandoned by their partner and who had responsibility for the care of a child; prisoners detained in custody pending trial or sentence upon conviction; and those who had been refused payments under an insurance policy due to either a pre-existing medical condition or because they were infected by HIV or AIDs.
	From 5 January 2009, all working age customers (those claiming IS, JSA(IB) or ESA(IR)) making new claims will receive help with 100 per cent. of their eligible housing costs after a waiting period of 13 weeks.
	This compares favourably with the previous position because although some customers received 50 per cent. of eligible housing costs after eight weeks under the old rules, they had to wait 26 weeks before receiving 100 per cent. We believe that this more generous help, taken together with the increased capital limit for working age customers from £100,000 to £200,000, will reduce the risk of repossessions.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the  (a) maximum amount which could be claimed and  (b) time limit for claims under the support for mortgage interest scheme was in the period up to 5 January 2009; and what the limit has been since that date.

Kitty Ussher: Where a home owner is getting income support (IS), income-based jobseeker's Allowance (JSA(IB)), income-related employment and support allowance (ESA(IR)) or state pension credit (SPC) and they have a mortgage, those benefits may include an additional element called support for mortgage interest (SMI). SMI is meant to assist the home owner with the interest on their mortgage, and an additional amount is included in the applicable amount. It is not a separate benefit, rather an integral part of IS, JSA(IB), ESA(IR) and SPC.
	The amount of SMI is calculated by applying a standard interest rate (SIR) to the capital outstanding on the mortgage, subject to upper limits on the amount of that capital. From 5 January, for new claims to IS, JSA and ESA, the capital limit was increased from £100,000 to £200,000. The existing £100,000 capital limit has been retained in SPC, but we will allow those getting help via SMI on loans over £100,000 to keep the higher capital limit when they move on to SPC within 12 weeks of a claim for a working age benefit ending, for as long as they remain entitled to SPC.
	Previously, the SIR had been set at the Bank of England base rate plus an additional 1.58 per cent. However, the Government are concerned that recent cuts in the base rate will disadvantage significant number of customers on benefit if they are reflected in SMI calculations. For this reason, the Chancellor announced in the pre-Budget report on 24 November 2008 that the SIR will remain at 6.08 per cent. for six months.
	In addition, the waiting period before help through SMI starts was shortened from 39 or 26 weeks to 13 weeks for new, some repeat and some existing working age claims. There is no waiting period for home owners claiming SPC.
	A two-year time limit on SMI for new, some repeat and some existing JSA claims only was introduced from 5 January 2009. Prior to this, help through SMI was available so long as there was a liability for the mortgage and so long as there was entitlement to JSA.
	The SMI changes are a temporary short-term measure intended to help people over the potentially difficult labour market problems they face and help limit repossessions, rather than changing existing qualifying conditions, and will be reviewed once housing market conditions are more favourable.

Trade Unions: Legal Opinion

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood of 27 January 2009,  Official Report, column 580W, on trade unions: legal opinion, if he will place in the Library a copy of the preliminary analysis produced by the Office of Fair Trading on whether trade union members are consumers for the purposes of consumer protection rules.

Gareth Thomas: The Office of Fair Trading carried out a preliminary analysis in response to a complaint about the way in which certain trade unions collect contributions from members to political funds. The OFT decided not to pursue this issue for a number of reasons including a lack of evidence of widespread harm; the limited extent of the beneficial impact on consumers of any intervention; certain legal uncertainties which were finely balanced as to whether trade unions are 'suppliers' or 'sellers' and that members are 'consumers'; and the need to prioritize its activities to best meet its prioritization principles. OFT lawyers contributed to consideration of the matter, but it is not the OFT's practice to release internal legal advice, in line with rules relating to legal professional privilege.

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Official Hospitality

Paul Goodman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1843W, on hospitality: Equality and Human Rights Commission, if she will publish a breakdown by event of the £6,151 spent on hospitality in 2008-09.

Maria Eagle: Due to the way the Commission accounts are structured, it is not possible to break down the amount by individual events. The main components of the £6,151 figure are:
	Hospitality(1): £4,961.69
	Staff expenses(2): £1,189.56
	(1) Refreshments for visitors at EHRC-hosted meetings.
	(2) Refreshments for visitors at EHRC-hosted meetings paid for directly by staff.

Equality Bill 2008-09

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality which organisations she has met to discuss the Equality Bill since 3 December 2008.

Maria Eagle: I, the Minister for Women and Equality, Vera Baird QC MP, Baroness Royall and officials have met with representatives from the third sector, business, unions and most stakeholder groups with an interest in the Equality Bill.

Banks: Finance

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 100W, on banks, what progress has been made in liaison between his Department, UK Financial Investments (UKFI) and the boards of banks of which UKFI is a major shareholder on pension arrangements for directors of these banks.

Ian Pearson: holding answer  23 March  2009
	The Treasury and UK Financial Investments Ltd. (UKFI) continue to liaise with the board of the banks of which they are major shareholders on remuneration policy. This includes work to ensure that remuneration policies are in line with the Government's principles on remuneration, including no rewards for failure. Directors' remuneration arrangements—including pensions arrangements as appropriate—are disclosed in the banks' annual report and accounts.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Northavon of 3 December 2008 on behalf of Mr. P Deegan of Bradley Stoke, on annuities.

Ian Pearson: I have replied to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Northavon of 8 December 2008 on behalf of Mrs. J Gray of Wick, on winter fuel allowance for disabled children.

Stephen Timms: There was no trace of receipt of the letter of 8 December. A copy has been requested and received and a reply should be sent shortly.

Members: Correspondence

Andrew Selous: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the letter of 1 December 2008 from the hon. Member for South West Bedfordshire regarding his constituent, Mr. Brumwell.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Private Finance Initiative

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 47-48WS, on Government infrastructure investment, what rate of return on capital he is prepared to permit in private finance initiative projects supported by 100 per cent. senior debt lending by his Department.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 26 March 2009,  Official Report, column 632W.

Community Energy Saving Programme

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2009,  Official Report, column 918W, on Community Energy Saving Programme, when he expects to publish the final order for the Community Energy Saving Programme; and when he expects this order to come into force.

Joan Ruddock: A draft statutory instrument is now available on the DECC website. Consultation on the CESP proposals closes on 8 May, and the Government will then need to consider the responses received carefully. We hope to lay the final statutory instrument before Parliament this summer, with a view to the scheme coming into force later in 2009.

Electricité de France

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information he has received on the operations of European Union anti-trust inspectors on the offices of Electricité de France (EDF) in Brussels on 11 March, in respect of EDF's proposals to build nuclear power plants in the UK.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	Ministers do not receive information on unannounced inspections by the European Commission, Directorate-General Competition, or, for that matter, by national competition authorities. The broad details of inspections are confirmed in official statements by the independent competition authority concerned. In this particular case we know from the European Commission's statement of 11 March 2009 that:
	'on 10 March Commission officials carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of the electricity company EDF in France in respect of prices on the French wholesale electricity market'.

Energy: Advisory Services

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 56W, on energy: advisory services, what the address of each energy saving trust advice centre is.

Joan Ruddock: The address details of the 16 Energy Saving Trust regional advice centres that are funded by my Department are listed as follows:
	
		
			   Address 
			 London Energy Saving Trust advice centre CEN, 8th Floor, Ambassador House, Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 7JG 
			 East Midlands Energy Saving Trust advice centre Hestia, 1st Floor Granby House, 44 Friar Lane, Nottingham NG1 6DQ 
			 Wales Energy Saving Trust advice centre Energy Saving Trust, 1 Caspian Point, Caspian Way, Cardiff Bay, South Wales CF10 4DQ 
			 Northern Ireland Energy Saving Trust advice centre Bryson House,1-11 May Street, Belfast BT1 4NA 
			 North East Energy Saving Trust advice centre TADEA, 18B Manor Way, Belasis Hall Technology Park, Billingham  TS23 4HN 
			 Merseyside and Cheshire Energy Saving Trust advice centre Energy Projects Plus, The Sandon Building, Falkland Road, Wallasey, Wirral CH44 8ER 
			 Greater Manchester Energy Saving Trust advice centre Manchester City Council, 4th Floor, Basil House, 105-107 Portland Street, Manchester M1 6DF 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire Energy Saving Trust advice centre TADEA, 12C Alanbrooke Road, Rosehill, Carlisle CA1 2UT 
			 North Yorks and Humber Energy Saving Trust advice centre Ryedale Energy Conservation Group Ltd., 20 George Hudson Street, York YO1 6WR 
			 South and West Yorks Energy Saving Trust advice centre Kirklees Energy Services, 12 Byram Buildings, Stration Street, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD1 1LS 
			 Thames Valley and Solent advice centre USEA, National Energy Centre, Davey Avenue, Knowhill, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK5 8NG 
			 Kent, Surrey and Sussex Energy Saving Trust advice centre CEN, 3rd Floor, International House, Dover Place, Ashford, Kent TN23 1HU 
			 West Midlands Energy Saving Trust advice centre Hestia, European Business Park, Taylors Lane, Oldbury, West Midlands  B69 2BN 
			 East of England Energy Saving Trust advice centre 1 Climate Energy, Echotech Centre, Turbine Way, Swaffham, Norfolk PE37 7HT 
			 East of England Energy Saving Trust advice centre 2 Climate Energy, Countrywide House, Freebournes Road, Witham, Essex  CM8 3UN 
			 South and West Yorks Energy Saving Trust advice centre (Devon, Swindon, Cornwall and Bristol, and Somerset hubs) Energy Advice South West Ltd., c/o South Crofty House, Tolvaddon Energy Park, Cambourne, Cornwall TR14 0HX

Environmental Transformation Fund

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2161W, on Environmental Transformation Fund, by what date he expects to sign the trust fund arrangement with the World Bank.

Joan Ruddock: This arrangement, known officially as the "Contribution Arrangement" between the World Bank (the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and the United Kingdom acting through the Department for International Development and my Department was signed on 26 March.

Warm Front Scheme

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 59W, on the Warm Front scheme, what estimate he has made of the number of eligible households which are classified as being in fuel poverty.

Joan Ruddock: According to the English House Condition survey of 2006, at least 25 per cent. of all vulnerable households eligible for the scheme were fuel poor and approximately 3.3 million households were eligible for assistance. Given these figures, the Department estimates that approximately 825,00 households eligible for the scheme at this time were fuel poor. It is likely, however, that many of the residual number may have otherwise fallen into, or have been near falling into fuel poverty, as a result of gas and electricity price increases in 2007 and 2008.

Asylum

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the immigration status of the asylum seeker with the Home Office reference M1225028 was on 2 April 2007.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency replied to the hon. Member on 11 December 2008.

Asylum

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the immigration status of the asylum seeker with Home Office reference Y1062497 was on 2 April 2007.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency replied to the hon. Member on 11 December 2008.

Asylum: Deportation

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which countries her Department cannot return unsuccessful asylum seekers on humanitarian grounds; and how many unsuccessful asylum seekers from each such country were present in the United Kingdom on 1 November 2008.

Phil Woolas: There are no countries to which there is a blanket approach of not returning failed asylum seekers on humanitarian grounds. The Government believe that the right approach is to consider the protection needs of individuals on an individual basis.
	Each asylum and human rights claim is considered on its individual merits in accordance with our international obligations and taking full account of conditions in the country concerned as they impact on the individual. Those found to be in need of international protection are provided with it. Failed asylum seekers of all nationalities who have been found by the Home Office and the appeals process not to be in need of international protection and have no legal basis of stay in the UK are expected to return to their country of origin and may have their removal enforced.

Asylum: Housing

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 915W, on asylum: housing, how many properties are covered by the 28 contracts with providers to supply accommodation for asylum seekers.

Phil Woolas: Information on the number of properties covered by the UK Border Agency's 28 contracts with accommodation providers to supply accommodation for asylum seekers could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Cannabis

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2009,  Official Report, column 673W, on cannabis, where illegal drugs used for police training purposes are  (a) obtained and  (b) stored; and what guidance her Department has issued to police forces on such matters.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 10 March 2009
	Cannabis is the only drug where smell and touch cannot be replicated. Other illegal drugs are represented by facsimiles that are purchased by police forces as a "dummy box".
	Cannabis is obtained from confiscations which are marked for destruction once the respective case is closed.
	The illegal drugs are stored in property stores, the majority of which are located at respective police force headquarters. Property stores are strong, locked rooms with separate drugs cabinets. These are under the control and supervision of the Serious Organised Crime Agency. Close supervision is exercised by a senior officer to ensure proper removal, use and replacement of the substances. Release can be obtained only by authorised drug trainers.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer question 251383, tabled on 22 January 2009, on ICT projects; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I replied to the hon. Member on 24 March 2009,  Official Report, column 299W.

Employment

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1666-7W, on employment, how many and what proportion of  (a) UK born UK nationals,  (b) non-UK born UK nationals,  (c) UK born non-UK nationals and  (d) non-UK born non-UK nationals there were in the working population in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated March 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2009, Official Report, columns 1666-7W, on employment, how many and what proportion of (a) UK born UK nationals, (b) non-UK born UK nationals, (c) UK born non-UK nationals and (d) non-UK born non-UK nationals there were in the working population in each year since 1997. (267739)
	The requested information is shown in the attached table.
	The estimates are derived from the Labour Force Survey. As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. This is assessed in a footnote to the table.
	The figures in the table are derived from the LFS microdata which are weighted using the official population estimates published in autumn 2007. Consequently the 2007 and 2008 estimates are not entirely consistent with the figures published in the monthly Labour Market Statistics First Release, or the non-UK born employment figures published every quarter, which are weighted using more up-to-date population estimates.
	
		
			  People aged 16 and over in employment by nationality and country of birth, three month period ending December, 1997-2008—United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted 
			   UK born UK nationals  Non-UK born UK nationals  UK born non-UK nationals  Non-UK born non-UK nationals 
			   Number (thousand)  As a percentage of all people in employment  Number (thousand)  As a percentage of all people in employment  Number (thousand)  As a percentage of all people in employment  Number (thousand)  As a percentage of all people in employment 
			 1997 24,664 92 1,025 4 — — 988 4 
			 1998 24,861 92 1,093 4 — — 1,047 4 
			 1999 25,248 92 1,074 4 — — 1,046 4 
			 2000 25,321 92 1,066 4 — — 1,204 4 
			 2001 25,464 91 1,125 4 — — 1,234 4 
			 2002 25,580 91 1,178 4 — — 1,354 5 
			 2003 25,734 91 1,184 4 — — 1,376 5 
			 2004 25,838 90 1,226 4 — — 1,585 6 
			 2005 25,823 90 1,298 5 — — 1,710 6 
			 2006 25,792 88 1,347 5 37 0 1,971 7 
			 2007 25,844 88 1,427 5 — — 2,177 7 
			 2008(1) *25,581 87 *1,466 5 ****— — *2,354 8 
			 — = Sample size too small for reliable estimates. (1) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated as an indication of the quality of the estimates, as described below:  Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5 per cent. we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220.  Key Coefficient of Variation (CV) (%) Statistical Robustness * 0 [le] CV < 5 Estimates are considered precise. ** 5 [le] CV < 10 Estimates are considered reasonably precise. *** 10 [le] CV < 20 Estimates are considered acceptable. **** CV ≥20 Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes and have not been provided.  Note: It should be noted that the above estimates exclude people in most types of communal establishment (e.g. hotels, boarding houses, hostels, mobile home sites etc.).  Source: Labour Force Survey

Business Improvement Districts

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 726-30W, on business improvement districts, when each business improvement district (BID) was first approved; how many times each BID has been re-approved; what the result of each ballot held on BID approval has been; for what purposes each BID was established; how much revenue each BID has generated since its establishment; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: The following BIDs have been re-approved for a second term:
	Reading
	Bristol
	Paddington
	Liverpool
	Coventry City Centre
	New West End Company
	Heart of London
	Government do not hold the other information requested.
	The National BIDs Advisory Service provided by the Association for Town Centre Management publishes BID ballot results which are available at:
	www.ukbids.org/

Departmental Procurement

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 304W, on departmental procurement, if she will place in the Library a copy of the invoices for the expenditure at Majestic Wine Warehouse Ltd; and for what purpose the expenditure was incurred.

Sadiq Khan: The expenditure was incurred for the purposes of official hospitality for a number of events. For reasons of commercial confidentiality it is not normal practice to make public copies of invoices.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1689W, on departmental training, which Ministers took advice on  (a) continuing professional development and  (b) speeches; and what the cost was in each case.

Sadiq Khan: The training referred to in my earlier answer of 9 February 2009,  Official Report, column 1689W, was: advice on continuing professional development; and advice on speeches; and cost in total £650 and £2,115 respectively. Identifying Ministers who undertake training would, or would be likely to, discourage participation in future training sessions, acting as a disincentive for Ministers to undertake formal professional development.

Civil Service

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, column 774, whether proposals on the constitutional position of the Civil Service will be included in the Constitutional Renewal Bill.

Jack Straw: The Governance of Britain Green Paper set out the Government's commitment to bring forward legislation to enshrine the core principles and values of the civil service in law. The draft Constitutional Renewal Bill contained provisions in respect of the civil service. As I said, it remains my intention that the necessary legislation will be brought forward. The Bill is in the final stages of drafting.

Departmental Air Travel

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East (Mr. Duddridge) of 21 October 2008,  Official Report, column 257W, on departmental air travel, if he will place in the Library the figures for 2007-08.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department's air travel for 2007-08 is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   km 
			 Domestic air travel 4,985,381 
			 Short-haul air travel 2,601,782 
			 Long-haul air travel 6,369,225 
			 Total 13,956,388 
		
	
	These data cover some business areas that are now part of the Ministry of Justice.
	All official travel is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.
	The Home Office participates in the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund which is co-ordinated by DEFRA. This ensures the Department offsets carbon dioxide emissions from its official air travel.

Departmental Electronic Equipment

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department and its predecessor have spent on  (a) flat screen televisions,  (b) DVD players and  (c) stereo equipment in each of the last three years.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is contained in the following table.
	
		
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			   Flat screen  DVD  Stereo  Flat screen  DVD  Stereo  Flat screen  DVD  Stereo 
			 MOJ HQ(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 40,193 3,876 0 
			 Office for Criminal Justice Reform Based in Home Office premises 
			 HMPS 0 
			 NOMS 0 
			 HMCS 0 
			 Tribunal 0 0 0 10,000 0 0 10,000 0 0 
			 Total 0 0 0 10,000 0 0 50,193 3,876 0 
			 Grand total £64,069 
			 (1)Cost includes supply, installation and commissioning, exclusive of VAT. 
		
	
	The vast majority of the screens installed at 102 Petty France are not operating as televisions but even where for example they run BBC News 24 it is not obtained via the in-built receivers but run over the network via the "media star" installation (Parliamentary TV).
	Information for Her Majesty's Prison Service. National Offender Management Service and Her Majesty's Courts Service could be obtained only at disproportionate costs. The information requested is not held centrally, requiring contact with each court and prison region. The Prison Service alone has 40 regions nationwide.
	In addition to the costs stated for the Tribunals Service (TS), a further £35,000 was capitalised on video conference facilities for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel CICAP in 2006-07. This enabled the reduction of costs of staff incurred through travel/time within the TS.

Departmental Energy

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps have been taken by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies to improve the thermal efficiency of their buildings in the last 12 months.

Shahid Malik: Steps taken by the Ministry of Justice to improve the thermal efficiency of its core headquarters buildings in the last 12 months cover a range of work such as:
	the installation of additional roof insulation;
	improved draught proofing of windows;
	thermal insulation of pipework;
	re-balancing of air conditioning to improve operational, energy and thermal efficiency; and,
	the refurbishment of 102 Petty France which saw the building fabric and systems improved to meet the high BREEAM(1) standards.
	In respect of the Agencies for which the Ministry is responsible:
	Her Majesty's Court Service (HMCS): all new buildings are required to be designed using the Court Standard and Design Guide which incorporates building regulations and includes details of U values (the measurement of heat transfer through a given building material, glass etc., the lower the U Value—the better the insulator) and thermal modelling. The use of the Design Guide assists developers in achieving BREEAM "Excellent" for all new building and "Very Good" for refurbishments. This means that they would be in excess of Building Regulations in terms of thermal efficiency. There are a wide range of factors required to achieve BREEAM "Excellent", so the extent of the thermal efficiency improvement would vary from building to building so as to achieve the best overall thermal performance for that building.
	HMCS has carried out research to ascertain which types of building from the existing stock are the most energy efficient. HMCS has used this information to prioritise the retention of the most energy efficient buildings, the disposal of the least energy efficient, and targeted improvement of the thermal efficiency of all retained building stock. This is leading to an ongoing improvement in the thermal efficiency of the overall estate.
	Tribunals Service: no specific work has been undertaken in the last 12 months.
	National Offender Management Service—Her Majesty's Prison Service (HMPS): In undertaking a Carbon Management Programme (from June 2008) HMPS are identifying cost-effective opportunities for saving carbon. Included in these are building fabric improvements to improve the thermal efficiency. These opportunities are being costed and prioritised, and will be implemented subject to approval of the implementation plan.
	HM Land Registry have not taken specific action to improve the thermal efficiency of their buildings, in the last 12 months, mainly because they carried out this work on most of their buildings over a lengthy period prior to then especially in relation to providing double glazed windows.
	The National Archives (TNA): no direct steps have been taken to improve thermal efficiency of TNA's Kew site in the last 12 months. The Carbon Trust and TEAM Energy Auditing Agency have provided energy saving recommendations.
	(1) For over a decade, BREEAM has been used to assess the environmental performance of both new and existing buildings. It is regarded by the UK's construction and property sectors as the measure of best practice in environmental design and management.

Prisons: Standards

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1789W, on prisons: standards, when the function of  (a) Her Majesty's Prison Wolds and  (b) Her Majesty's Prison and Young Offenders Institution Ashfield last changed; and for what reason no prison performance rating for each was published in the last quarter.

David Hanson: HMP Wolds opened in April 1992 as a remand prison and in 1993 was re-roled to a local category B prison holding sentenced prisoners. The initial management contract ran for five years and was renewed for a further five years in 1997. In 2001, HMP Wolds was subject to a competitive re-bid. G4S was the successful bidder for the contract to run HMP Wolds as a category C training prison for a further 10 years.
	HMP and YOI Ashfield opened on 1 November 1999 and accommodated both juveniles (aged 15 to 17) and young offenders (aged 18 to 21) until February 2004 when it was re-roled as an all juvenile establishment holding young people between 15 but under 18 years of age.
	Performance Management Group (National Offender Management Service) owns and manages the Prison Performance Assessment Tool (PPAT) which assesses around 120 public prisons by looking at performance in 33 indicators, which is then cross checked with a rating produced by assessing against a set of 44 indicators in the public prison weighted scorecard. For private prisons only the PPAT is used to produce the data driven assessment. Both HMP Ashfield's and HMP Wolds' performance ratings were published on 12 December 2008 and are available via the following link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/prison-quarterly-ratings-quarter-2-2008-09.pdf
	In the most recent published ratings (quarter 2) both prisons achieved a level 3 rating for good performance.